Tajo de Los Vados Fire

The mountain-brush fire in the Tajo de Los Vados area of the municipality of Salobreña on Tuesday the 16th of May, was the first of what will probably be a series of summer fires.

As a consequence, the Junta de Andalucia activated their Level One Emergency Plan at 17.08h the same day. However, by 18.08h it was deactivated again.

Level One is when the Junta consider moving people from their properties due to the immediate danger from fire and possible loss of life.

The Emergency Services received the first alert at 15.30h, soon followed by over 100 more calls from concerned locals.

Up to 70 firefighters from Infoca were used to tackle the rapidly developing fires whilst the police evacuated nearby country dwellings. Also deployed were six aircraft (five helicopters and one coordination plane).

Firemen from Motril also helped out, as well as Protección Civil from Salobreña, together with the Unidad Médica de Incendios Forestales (UMIF).

The Tajo de Los Vados is the name for the canyon on the N-323 just below Vélez Benaudalla. The fire was just to the west of the canyon and to the north of Lobres.

The fire, which was declared controlado at 09.15h on Wednesday morning, is estimated to have affected 12 hectares of mountain brush and pine.